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There is a common phrase that says “the joy is in the journey.” That couldn’t be more true for Northwest Arkansas. Here are three beautiful scenic mountain roads that you and your family will enjoy your next road trip in Northwest Arkansas.
The Ozarks
The Ozarks drive makes a counterclockwise loop from Eureka Springs to the Buffalo River. It goes through Jasper, then east to Mountain View, where it winds back to where you began. It is full of beautiful landscape, especially in the fall when the colors are changing. There are also many amazing sights to stop and see along the way.
Stop in Eureka Springs, a fun resort town whose unofficial motto is “where misfits fit.” If you are there between May and October, you can enjoy the Great Passion Play. It takes place at the location of the 67-foot-tall Christ of the Ozarks statue. South of Eureka Springs, if you turn off Highway 23 at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, you can see lions, tigers, leopards, and cougars all roaming their spacious outdoor habitat. The refuge’s mission is to provide lifetime refuge for abandoned, neglected and abused big cats.
Don’t miss out on Blanchard Springs Caverns near the end of your journey. You will want to follow Route 9 north out of Mountain View, then stay left onto Route 14. Blanchard Springs Caverns are located in the Ozark National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service can take you on science-based tours of the three caverns, each one varying in length. The Dripstone Trail is the shortest, and some say prettiest. Then is the Discovery Trail, and last is the Wild Cave Tour, where you will go through undeveloped sections and get a bit down and dirty.
Boston Mountains Scenic Route
Two unique and beautiful, roads, U.S. Highway 71 and Interstate 49 cross across the highest point of the Ozark Mountains and combine to make the Boston Mountains Scenic Route. U.S. 71 follows a former stagecoach route, while I-49 will take you across high-span bridges and the state’s only highway tunnel. If you are looking for good hiking spots along the way, you will want to take U.S. 71. This route spans 42 miles, while the I-49 route spans 38 miles. Both of these roads run between Alma and Fayetteville in Northwest Arkansas.
Scenic 7
Some say this is the most scenic drive in the state of Arkansas. Scenic 7 runs south to north through the state, spanning 290 miles, with many diverse landscapes and interesting stops along the way. If you begin on the south end, you will start near El Dorado in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Near Arkadelphia, you will enter the Ouachita Mountains, which are famous for their quartz crystals, as well as Hot Springs National Park.
Continue through the Ouachita Mountains, past Lake Nimrod, and into the Arkansas River Valley. From there you will enter the Ozark Mountains, pass through the mountain town of Jasper, and end in Harrison.
Whether you are on your way out of town, or you like to explore out-of-the-way places, consider taking one of these scenic roads as part of your next journey.
Photo by miketnorton | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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